For years, we have been striving for human personhood for all — born and preborn — for, when this is achieved, babies will finally be safe in their mother's wombs. The respect they deserve will be the respect they get. But there are several animal rights activists who want to add other creatures to this mix. And some even value an animal's life more than a person's.

Of course Singer is not alone. Most recently he has been joined by a cadre of animal rights activists who have brought their own spin to the question of what it means to be a person. York County SPCA executive director Melissa Smith, http://www.yorkdispatch.com/news/ci_15912654 for example, explained to her local newspaper that she took her lead from veterinarian Elliot Katz, who recommended some years ago that, if the owner of a dog or a cat is referred to as the "guardian" instead of the "owner," a higher level of moral responsibility is required of that individual.

Katz, founder of the international organization In Defense of Animals, http://idausa.org/ is convinced that, by changing the language that describes the pet caretaker, the caretaker's behavior toward that animal will also change. He could be onto something, of course. As we know in America, since pregnancy has fallen into disrepute and is viewed as a disease instead of a natural state of expectation, millions of human persons have been killed by abortion.

Having said this, let me add that Katz and his fellow animal lovers are using some terminology that should send shivers down your spine. Rutgers law professor Gary Francione, http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/ who has written extensively on animal rights, is convinced that rhetorical modification is not enough, but rather what is needed is a change in the legal status of animals. According to Francione, http://www.yorkdispatch.com/ci_15912654 "You don't go from non-personhood to personhood through incremental changes ... (including) language changes. Once somebody has achieved personhood, then you can improve that status and ameliorate the lack of equality through various means."

What? Yes, in his latest book, Animals as Persons, http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/vegetarianism-as-a-gateway-to-veganism/ Francione sets forth the argument that "nonhuman animals should be regarded as 'persons' — full members of the moral community."

We have to understand that ARLists do not share a common frame of moral reference with the rest of society.

Whereas most of us believe that humans have the highest moral value, it is an article of faith among ARLists that no moral distinction exists between humans and animals; "a rat, is a dog, is a boy," in one animal liberationist's infamous assertion. Thus, while most of us believe that we have a positive moral duty to treat animals humanely and support punishing people that abuse them, ARL movement devotees believe — not metaphorically, but literally — that we have no right to use animals for any purpose, not even as seeing-eye dogs.

While I have no tolerance for those who abuse animals or wildlife in general, I see nothing commendable in the philosophical position that my cat or your dog should be recognized as a human person in the same way that some of us are. Yes, SOME, not all! Let's not forget that America has already dehumanized preborn children, denying their human personhood in the law and the culture.

Judie Brown

Judie Brown is president and co-founder of American Life League, the nation's largest grassroots pro-life educational organization... (more)

Judie Brown is president and co-founder of American Life League, the nation's largest grassroots pro-life educational organization.

She has served three terms as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life in Rome. Daily Catholic cited her as one of the top 100 Catholics of the 20th century.

Judie has appeared on 20/20, 60 Minutes, Mother Angelica Live, The O'Reilly Factor, Good Morning America, Today, Oprah, and Larry King Live, as well as hundreds of other television and radio talk shows. Her comments regularly appear in major print media nationwide, and she has written numerous editorial pieces for magazines and newspapers, including The Washington Post and USA Today.

Judie is married to Paul A. Brown, and they have three children and nine grandchildren. She and her husband have been involved in the pro-life movement since 1969.